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Genocide Denial at Center of Mass. Judicial Nomination
http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/24587
November 21, 2013
Joseph Berman
BOSTON - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's nominee for a seat on
the Commonwealth's Superior Court is facing opposition because of his
leadership role in the Anti-Defamation League and that organization's
refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
The Boston Globe reported Thursday, that Joseph S. Berman's nomination
is being opposed by members of the eight-person elected panel that
approves judicial nominations.
Councilor Marilyn M. Pettito Devaney, a Democrat from Watertown, led
the opposition to Berman, saying she had the five votes needed to
reject his nomination.
She stood and denounced Berman's affiliation with the Anti-Defamation
League, as the governor, who chairs the panel, looked on, chagrined,
reported the Boston Globe.
`In 1939, Hitler, carrying out his horrific mission to exterminate the
Jews, said, `Who remembers the Armenians?'' Devaney said, her voice
trembling and eyes filling with tears. `I do. And many others do,
too,' according to the Boston Globe.
Devaney said if she belonged to `a group who denied the Holocaust,'
she would resign. Several other councilors agreed that Berman's ties
to the Anti-Defamation League are a concern, while raising their own
separate objections.
The opposition forced Gov. Patrick to postpone Berman's approval to December 4.
Berman's nominations and the ADL's Genocide denial took center stage
in 2007 when the organization launched its `No Place for Hate'
campaign, causing backlash from the Armenian-American community in
Massachusetts, which claimed that an organization that unequivocally
denies the Armenian Genocide had no place in public schools promoting
anti-discrimination.
A campaign called `No Place for Denial,' led by the Armenian National
Committee of America Eastern Mass. Chapter and including a
cross-section of the Armenian-American community vocally opposed ADL's
efforts.
In 2007, the ADL fired its New England regional director, Andrew H.
Tarsy, after he acknowledged the Armenian Genocide in opposition to
the national leadership.
ADL's national director Abraham Foxman has gone on record to say that
the events of 1915 were `tantamount to Genocide,' but did not label it
as such. He has also actively lobbied against Armenian Genocide
resolutions in Congress.
According to the Boston Globe, Councilor Devaney stood firm on her
opposition, saying: `We're not going to change our minds. To prolong
this serves no purpose.'
Councilor Terrence W. Kennedy agreed, saying that even though he
supports Berman, a delay will not save the nomination, reported the
Globe. `It's a democracy, and I don't think the vote is going to
change,' he told Patrick.
http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/24587
November 21, 2013
Joseph Berman
BOSTON - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's nominee for a seat on
the Commonwealth's Superior Court is facing opposition because of his
leadership role in the Anti-Defamation League and that organization's
refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
The Boston Globe reported Thursday, that Joseph S. Berman's nomination
is being opposed by members of the eight-person elected panel that
approves judicial nominations.
Councilor Marilyn M. Pettito Devaney, a Democrat from Watertown, led
the opposition to Berman, saying she had the five votes needed to
reject his nomination.
She stood and denounced Berman's affiliation with the Anti-Defamation
League, as the governor, who chairs the panel, looked on, chagrined,
reported the Boston Globe.
`In 1939, Hitler, carrying out his horrific mission to exterminate the
Jews, said, `Who remembers the Armenians?'' Devaney said, her voice
trembling and eyes filling with tears. `I do. And many others do,
too,' according to the Boston Globe.
Devaney said if she belonged to `a group who denied the Holocaust,'
she would resign. Several other councilors agreed that Berman's ties
to the Anti-Defamation League are a concern, while raising their own
separate objections.
The opposition forced Gov. Patrick to postpone Berman's approval to December 4.
Berman's nominations and the ADL's Genocide denial took center stage
in 2007 when the organization launched its `No Place for Hate'
campaign, causing backlash from the Armenian-American community in
Massachusetts, which claimed that an organization that unequivocally
denies the Armenian Genocide had no place in public schools promoting
anti-discrimination.
A campaign called `No Place for Denial,' led by the Armenian National
Committee of America Eastern Mass. Chapter and including a
cross-section of the Armenian-American community vocally opposed ADL's
efforts.
In 2007, the ADL fired its New England regional director, Andrew H.
Tarsy, after he acknowledged the Armenian Genocide in opposition to
the national leadership.
ADL's national director Abraham Foxman has gone on record to say that
the events of 1915 were `tantamount to Genocide,' but did not label it
as such. He has also actively lobbied against Armenian Genocide
resolutions in Congress.
According to the Boston Globe, Councilor Devaney stood firm on her
opposition, saying: `We're not going to change our minds. To prolong
this serves no purpose.'
Councilor Terrence W. Kennedy agreed, saying that even though he
supports Berman, a delay will not save the nomination, reported the
Globe. `It's a democracy, and I don't think the vote is going to
change,' he told Patrick.